Book support



Oct. 15, 1935. WAGNER 2,017,518

BOOK SUPPORT Filed Sept. 18, 1933 IN VE TOR ORN Patented Oct. 15, 1935 warren STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable, book sup,- porting device and more particularly, to a device for supporting upon a desk or table a book or the like in open position and at any desired angle of inclination, to the end of enabling the pages of said book or the like to be easily and conveniently seen.

The invention has for its general object the provision of an improved book supporting device of the type specified, said device being of simple and inexpensive construction, of neat and pleas ing appearance, of light weight yet of strong and sturdy character, and of parts which are so constructed and interconnected that the device may be readily folded into fiat form when not in use, thereby making it easy and convenient to carry and exceedingly compact to .ship and store, etc.

Further and more detailed objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the present device with the book supporting means thereof in book supporting position; Fig. 2 is a front view of said device with a book supported thereon in open position; Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of said device, with a second position of adjustment of the book supporting means thereof indicated in dotted lines, the View being on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of said device in its flat, folded up condition; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of said device in the flat form in which it appears in Fig. 4, the view being on the line 55 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a bottom plan View of the device.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown, the device includes a base I, a book rest 2 provided adjacent its lower end with a pair of book supporting arms 3, and a brace 4 for said book rest, said parts being made of any suitable material and of any suitable size. As shown, the base I, the book rest 2 and the brace 4 are simple sheet metal stampings, of generally rectangular shape and of a size to enable the average size book to be conveniently supported. The book supporting arms 3, in the present embodiment of the invention, are simple wire members, having their lower ends pivotally mounted on the book rest 2, as will hereinafter more fully appear. In order to avoid sharp edges, to provide supports for hinge pins and to provide a device of more pleasing appearance and of more rigid character, etc., the

(CL fl base-i andthe brace .4 of the present device are provided at their sides and ends and the "book rest 2 thereof is provided at its sides and at one of its ends with relatively short or narrow, "laterally extending flanges. p

The brace 4 has its rear end hinged or pivoted on the rear end of the base I between the side flanges thereof, the hinge or pivot pins 6 for effecting such mounting or connection being sup ported in the side flanges of said parts. On the front and free end of said brace, the book rest 2, intermediate its ends, is hinged or pivoted, the side flanges of said book rest lying outside the side flanges of said brace and the hinge or pivot pins;8 for effecting such mounting .or connection being supported in said side flanges of said parts, as shown.

For releasably holding the book rest .2 in .book receiving position,,such as shown in 'Figs. 1, 2 -and' 3,.-.the base I is provided in its forward end portion with a longitudinally disposed, transversely slotted ridge L0, each of the abutment forming slots ll thereof being adapted to releasably receive the lower, unflanged end of said book rest, whereby said book rest may be releasably held in book receiving position at any desired angle of inclination.

The book supporting arms 3 of the present device each comprises a depending lower end portion for pivotal mounting on the book rest 2, adjacent the lower end thereof, an outwardly extending intermediate portion for book supporting purposes, and an upright upper end portion for book confining purposes, all as is clearly shown and as will be readily understood. For swingingly or pivotally receiving the depending lower end portions of said arms, the lower end portion of said book rest 2 has two transversely disposed, arch-shaped straps l5 punched therefrom and for preventing the accidental escape of said arm end 40 portions from behind said straps, the book rest 2 just above said straps is provided with forwardly projecting nibs [6 adapted to engage the inner ends of the intermediate portions of said arms and thereby maintain said arms in assembly with 45 said book rest. By pivotally mounting said arms on said book rest, said arms may be readily swung to operative, book supporting position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and in full lines, Fig. 1, and to inoperative position alongside the book rest, as 50 shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1.

When use of the present device is not desired, it may be folded into fiat form, as shown in Figs.

4 and 5, in which collapsed condition it occupies but little space and is therefore easy and 55 convenient to carry, ship, store, etc. As shown, the book rest 2 lies between the base I and the brace 4, the side flanges of said base being preferably of sufficient width to cover the side flanges oi! said brace and said book rest, the side flanges of said brace being also covered by the side flanges of said book rest. If desired and as shown, the book rest 2 may have its upper end projecting beyond the front end of the base I, such projecting end portion providing a convenient part to be grasped in opening up the device to locate the book rest 2 in book receiving position.

In the embodiment of the invention here illustrated, the book rest 2 has a length just slightly greater than that of the base I and the brace 4 has a length slightly greater than one-half that of said base, all as clearly shown in the accompanying drawing.

If desired and as shown, the base I may be provided with suitable cushioning feet 20, the ones here shown being of rubber and being suitably secured in openings at the corners of said base.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have provided a very simply constructed, serviceable and convenient support for books and the like, which support may be readily folded into flat, exceedingly compact form when its use is not desired. It is, of course, to be understood that said support may be made in various sizes and of any desired materials, and that the whereby said parts can be folded into generally flat form when use of the device is not desired, said book rest, when the device is in such relatively flat form, having one of its end portions projecting beyond said case for convenient manip- 5 ulation in opening up said device to locate the book rest thereof in a book-receiving position.

2. A book supporting device, comprising a base,

a brace mounted thereon, and a book rest engaging said base and supported by said brace in an inclined book-receiving position, said base being provided with a longitudinally disposed, transversely slotted ridge, each of the slots of said ridge being adapted to releasably receive the lower end of said book rest, whereby said book rest may be releasably held in any one of a number of variously inclined book-receiving positions.

3. A book supporting device, comprising a base,-

a brace mounted thereon, a sheet metal book rest engaging said base and supported by said brace in a book-receiving position, the lower end portion of said book rest being provided with a pair of straps integral therewith and in spaced relation, and a pair of wire fingers each having a depending portion pivotally mounted in one oi. said straps and a book supporting portion extending outwardly therefrom.

4. A book supporting device, comprising a base having vertically disposed side flanges, a brace arranged between said base flanges and having vertically disposed side flanges pivotally connected thereto, and a book rest having vertically disposed side flanges between which said brace is arranged, the flanges of said brace being pivotally connected to the flanges of said book rest, whereby said device can be folded into substantially fiat form, with said book rest between said base and said brace,when use of the device is not desired.

ROBERT E. WAGNER. 

